The Creative Equity Scholarship Fund (CESF) in East Africa has received a US$290,000 donation from Netflix.
For the 2022 academic year, the Netflix financial assistance to African creatives so that they can attend prestigious academic programmes and institutions that specialise in film and television.
In order to support more diverse and fresh perspectives on African stories, Netflix continues to make investments in Africa’s creative industries.
Overview of the field of study
The CESF aims to support the formal qualification and training of aspiring creatives from the East African region by providing financial assistance through full scholarships at partner higher educational institutions (HEIs) in Kenya, as detailed below.
A portion of the scholarship money will be used to pay for the tuition, housing, books, and other living expenses of students who have been accepted to TV and film programmes.
ELIGIBILITY AND REQUIREMENTS
Who should apply?
This scholarship opportunity is open to:
- New and ongoing certificate, diploma and degree students pursuing a course of study in Film and TV disciplines (screen production disciplines in particular).
- Students accepted or enrolled in the following academic institutions:
- Students from the following countries in the East African region; Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania enrolled in the aforementioned academic institutions.
- Students who are above 18 years of age and have attained high school qualifications.
- Students that can demonstrate financial need and have been unable to secure meaningful financial aid from other sources (e.g HELB)
To apply, click here.
The scholarships are a part of the Netflix Creative Equity Fund, a multi-year initiative launched in 2021 with the goal of creating a pipeline of diverse and talented creatives around the world through various initiatives.
Students who have been accepted to study in the TV and film disciplines in the 2022 academic year are eligible for the scholarship fund, which will cover the costs of tuition, housing, study materials, and living expenses.
Netflix opened the application process in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, where Tshikululu Social Investments serves as an implementing partner/fund administrator.
The CESF will then be rolled out across the region in the academic year beginning in 2022. East Africa and West and Central Africa also have their own fund administration partners.
According to Netflix’s Africa Director of Content, Ben Amadasun, “Netflix is excited by the potential of the next generation of storytellers and we are committed to investing in the future of African storytelling for the long term.
By supporting students who want to pursue a career in the film or television industry in Africa, we hope to contribute to the creative ecosystem by bringing new voices and perspectives to African storytelling that our global audiences find appealing.”
For almost a decade, HEVA has developed new financial models, made investments, and generated insights specifically for the growth of East Africa’s creative economy. We have invested in more than 40 creative businesses and directly supported more than 8,000 creative practitioners in the fashion, digital content and television, live music, and gaming value chains.
Helping cultural goods and services producers build high-value, profit-making businesses where new ideas can come to fruition is at the top of our priority list. We want to be the driving force behind this movement.
On the other hand, Netflix has more than 214 million subscribers in more than 190 countries who enjoy TV shows, documentaries, and feature films in a wide range of genres. There is no limit on how much one can watch, whenever and wherever they want. Members have complete control over their viewing experience, including the ability to skip commercials and resume where they left off.
Read: AfCFTA, sports and entertainment: Economically empowering Africa
